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2022 Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Music in California

33 Colleges in California
526 Master's Degrees
$22,933 Avg Early-Career Salary
A master's degree in music is more popular than many other degrees. In fact, it ranks #35 out of 326 on popularity of all such degrees in the nation. This means you won't have too much trouble finding schools that offer the degree.

For its 2022 ranking, College Factual looked at 33 schools in California to determine which ones were the most popular for music students pursuing a master's degree. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 526 master's degrees in music during the 2019-2020 academic year.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Other Rankings

Choosing a Great Music School for Your Master's Degree

Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Music in California Your choice of school for getting your master's degree in music matters. We created our Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Music in California ranking to make it a little easier to choose the right one for you.

While being high in popularity does not always mean a school has a quality music program, it is a sign that a large number of students choose the school. Sometimes this is because the school offers a great educational experience, it is a good value, or it is highly focused on the program.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Associate Degrees in Music
Bachelor's Degrees in Music
Doctor's Degrees in Music
Overall Popularity in Music

This ranking is just one of the many we have created. First of all, if you are interested in other degree levels, you may want to take a look at one of the rankings highlighted above. Also, if you are interested in attending school in a specific part of the country, see our rankings by location. Plus, you can view our other rankings for music.

Below you'll see a list of the most popular colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in music.

10 Most Well Attended Schools for Music Students Working on Their Master's

1
81 Annual Master's Degrees
#2 Best Quality In CA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

You'll be surrounded by many like-minded peers at University of Southern California if you wish to pursue a master's degree in music. USC is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Los Angeles. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #2 in quality for master's degrees in music in California.

There were approximately 81 music individuals who graduated with this degree at USC in the most recent year we have data available.

Master's students who receive their degree from the music program make about $16,200 for their early career.

More information about a master’s in music from University of Southern California

1
81 Annual Master's Degrees
#11 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

San Francisco Conservatory of Music is a popular choice for individuals pursuing a master's degree in music. SFCM is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of San Francisco.

There were approximately 81 music individuals who graduated with this degree at SFCM in the most recent data year.

After graduating, music master's recipients typically earn about $24,400 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a master’s in music from San Francisco Conservatory of Music

3
56 Annual Master's Degrees
#12 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

You'll be surrounded by many like-minded peers at California State University - Northridge if you wish to pursue a master's degree in music. Located in the large city of Northridge, CSUN is a public university with a very large student population.

There were about 56 music students who graduated with this degree at CSUN in the most recent year we have data available.

Those music students who get their master's degree from California State University - Northridge earn $12,967 more than the average music student.

More information about a master’s in music from California State University - Northridge

4
35 Annual Master's Degrees
#13 Best Quality In CA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

Any student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in music needs to take a look at California Institute of the Arts. Located in the suburb of Valencia, CalArts is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

There were about 35 music students who graduated with this degree at CalArts in the most recent data year.

After graduating, music master's recipients typically make about $19,700 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a master’s in music from California Institute of the Arts

5
32 Annual Master's Degrees
#16 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

CSULB is a fairly large public university located in the city of Long Beach.

There were about 32 music students who graduated with this degree at CSULB in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in music from California State University - Long Beach

6
28 Annual Master's Degrees
#6 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Azusa Pacific is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Azusa. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #6 in quality for master's degrees in music in California.

There were about 28 music students who graduated with this degree at Azusa Pacific in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in music from Azusa Pacific University

7
26 Annual Master's Degrees
#3 Best Quality In CA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public university with a very large student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #3 in quality for master's degrees in music in California.

There were approximately 26 music individuals who graduated with this degree at UCLA in the most recent data year.

After graduation, music master's recipients usually make around $20,600 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a master’s in music from University of California - Los Angeles

8
21 Annual Master's Degrees
#15 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the large suburb of Fullerton, Cal State Fullerton is a public university with a very large student population.

There were approximately 21 music students who graduated with this degree at Cal State Fullerton in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in music from California State University - Fullerton

9
Academy of Art University crest
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, CA
16 Annual Master's Degrees
#26 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the city of San Francisco, Academy of Art University is a private for-profit university with a medium-sized student population.

There were roughly 16 music individuals who graduated with this degree at Academy of Art University in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in music from Academy of Art University

9
16 Annual Master's Degrees
#14 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Cal State LA is a very large public university located in the large city of Los Angeles.

There were approximately 16 music individuals who graduated with this degree at Cal State LA in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in music from California State University - Los Angeles

Best Music Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Most Popular Music Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

StateCollegesDegrees Awarded
Washington18456
Oregon15157
Nevada10023
Hawaii845

View All Rankings >

One of 10 majors within the Visual & Performing Arts area of study, Music has other similar majors worth exploring.

Music Focus Areas

MajorAnnual Graduates
Music Performance146
General Music125
Other Music75
Music Theory & Composition47
Voice Performance37
Stringed Instruments32
Keyboard Instruments26
Woodwind Instruments10
Jazz Studies8
Brass Instruments7

Related MajorAnnual Graduates
Film, Video & Photographic Arts806
Fine & Studio Arts434
Drama & Theater Arts363
Design & Applied Arts241
General Visual & Performing Arts84
Arts & Media Management43
Dance30
Other Visual Art5

Notes and References

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